Article of jewelry with interchangeable plaque

ABSTRACT

A bracelet including a housing for supporting a removable plaque is disclosed. The housing is preferably connected at a first end and a second end to a strap. The housing may further include a base, and a pair of sidewalls which support the removable plaque in the engaged or secured position. The base may further support an element of an engagement member which secures the removable plaque to the base. In one embodiment, the engagement member includes a pair of magnets supported on an inner surface of the base and plaque, respectively, which are magnetically attracted to each other. The removable plaque preferably includes an inner surface which supports the magnet and an outer surface for receiving ornamentation, such as indicia thereon. The plaque may further include a pair of side walls which overlap the side walls of the housing in the engaged position.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates generally to an article of jewelry having aremovable plaque and, more specifically, to an identification-stylebracelet having a removable and/or interchangeable plaque.

[0003] 2. Background of Related Art

[0004] Identification-style bracelets are well known in the art ofjewelry. Such bracelets generally have a wrist band and include a plateor plaque for carrying identifying information or indicia, such as aperson's name or initials, personal data and/or medical information.Identification bracelets have been used for both ornamentation and forproviding information relating to an individual's medical condition.While generally appealing, user's may tire of the particularornamentation of their identification bracelet.

[0005] Jewelry having elements which can vary the overall “look” of thearticle of jewelry are also known in the art. For example, anidentification bracelet having a removable and interchangeable strap(12) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,067 to Prout. U.S. Pat. No.2,749,634 to Billett et al. discloses an identification bracelet watchwhich has a detachable housing where indicia personal to the wearer maybe attached and detached.

[0006] Accordingly, there is continued development in the art to developjewelry having elements which can be removed and/or interchanged inorder to vary the look of the article.

SUMMARY

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an article ofjewelry, for example an identification-style bracelet, having aremovable and/or interchangeable plaque. According to one embodiment,the bracelet includes a housing for supporting the removable plaque, anengagement member for removably securing the plaque to the housing, anda wristband or strap for supporting the bracelet around the wrist of awearer. The housing may preferably include a base, and a pair ofsidewalls which support the removable plaque in the engaged or securedposition. The base of the housing may also support the plaque, providean attachment point for the strap, and provide support for an element ofthe engagement member. In one embodiment, the engagement member includesa pair of magnets, one supported on an inner surface of the base of thehousing and the other supported on an inner surface of a faceplate ofthe plaque, which are magnetically attracted to each other. Theremovable plaque preferably includes an outer surface for receivingornamentation, such as indicia thereon, and a pair of side walls whichoverlap the side walls of the housing in the engaged position. Themagnetic attraction between the first magnet supported on the housingand the second magnet, supported on the plaque, prevents accidentaldisengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearerwishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or shesimply applies a force sufficient to break the magnetic bond between thefirst and second magnets and lifts the plaque off the housing. Inalternate embodiments, the engagement member includes any two elementswhich engage each other to removably secure the plaque to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] It should be understood that the drawings are provided for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limitsof the invention. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of theembodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment ofan identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeableplaque;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the identification bracelet ofFIG. 1 with multiple, interchangeable plaques;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the identificationbracelet taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the identificationbracelet of FIG. 3;

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a second embodiment ofan identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeableplaque;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the identification bracelet ofFIG. 5;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the identification bracelettaken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0016]FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of the identification braceletshowing an alternate engagement member to that of FIG. 7;

[0017]FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of a third embodiment ofan identification bracelet having a removable and/or interchangeableplaque;

[0018]FIG. 9 is an exploded side view, in partial cross-section, of theidentification bracelet of FIG. 8; and

[0019]FIG. 10 is a side view, in partial cross-section, of theidentification bracelet of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0020] An article of jewelry 10 having a removable plate or plaque 12 isillustrated in FIGS. 1-8. As used herein, the term “jewelry” refers toany type or style of jewelry which may be worn as either ornamentationor for a functional purpose, such as identification, by a user. In thedescription which follows the article of jewelry is described as abracelet, however, this is not intended to limit the scope of theapplication since the removable plaque may find use with other types ofjewelry, such as a necklace.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the article of jewelry 10 may be abracelet, for example an identification bracelet, and includes a plaqueassembly 11 having a housing 14 for supporting the removable plaque 12,a band or strap 16, and a fastener or clasp 18 for securing the straparound the wrist of a wearer. The housing 14 is preferably supported ata first and a second end 20, 22 between a first member 15 and a secondmember 17 of the strap 16. The strap 16 may be any conventional stylestrap or chain, and may be made of any suitable material such asleather, metal, fibre, plastic, etc. Likewise, the clasp 18 may be anyconventional style and may be made of any suitable material. In thepresent embodiment, the strap is preferably made from a metal, forexample stainless steel or silver, and includes a plurality of links 24,a link being attached to each of the first and second ends of thehousing.

[0022] The housing may further include a base 26, and a pair ofsidewalls 28, 30 supported on and extending from the base along alength, “l₁”, thereof. The side walls preferably support the removableplaque in the engaged or secured position. The base may preferablyprovide attachment points for the strap, and may additionally providesupport for an element of the engagement member 32 which removablysecures the plaque to the base. In the present embodiment, theengagement member 32 includes a pair of magnets 34, 36 supported on aninner surface of the base of the housing and the plaque, respectively,the magnets being magnetically attracted to each other in order toremovably secure the plaque to the housing.

[0023] The removable plaque 12 preferably includes an inner surface 38which supports the magnet 36 and an outer surface 39 for receivingornamentation, such as indicia 40 thereon. The plaque 12 furtherpreferably includes a pair of side walls 42, 44 which are supported onand extend from a faceplate of the plaque, preferably along a length,“l₂”, thereof. The sidewalls 42, 44 of the plaque preferablysubstantially overlap the side walls 28, 30 of the housing in theengaged position (FIG. 2) such that the plaque substantially covers thehousing and appears to be a single, unitary member. The magneticattraction between the first magnet 34 supported on the housing and thesecond magnet 36, supported on the plaque, prevents accidentaldisengagement of the plaque from the housing during use. When the wearerwishes to remove the plaque from engagement with the housing, he or shesimply applies a force sufficient to break the magnetic bond between thefirst and second magnets 34, 36 and lifts the plaque off the housing.The plaque assembly 11 may have any suitable dimensions, as desired.

[0024] The engagement member 32 may be any of a variety of engagementmembers, other than a pair of magnets, and may be supported on the sidewalls instead of the inner surface of the housing and plaque, as wouldbe known to those of skill in the art. For example, as shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 5-7 a, the engagement member 132 may include a pairof indentations 146, 148 which matingly engage a pair of protrusion 150,152. The indentations and protrusions are preferably supported on thesidewalls of the plaque and the housing. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,the indentations are formed on the outer surface of each of thesidewalls 128, 130 of the housing 114, while the protrusions 150, 152are formed on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls 142, 144 of theplaque. Alternatively, the indentations may be formed on the innersurface of the side walls of the plaque, and the protrusions may beformed on the outer surface of the side walls of the housing. As withthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the sidewalls 142, 144 of the plaquepreferably substantially overlap the side walls 128, 130 of the housingin the engaged position. The engagement of the protrusions with theircorresponding indentations prevents accidental disengagement of theplaque from the housing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove theplaque from engagement with the housing, he or she simply applies aforce sufficient to disengage the protrusions from the indentations andlifts the plaque off the housing. In a third, alternate embodiment(FIGS. 8-10), the engagement member 232 may be made of Velcro® material,with a hook element 254 being supported on the inner surface of eitherthe housing or plaque, and a corresponding loop element 256 beingsupported on the inner surface of the other of either the housing orplaque, as is conventional. The engagement of the hook element with theloop element prevents accidental disengagement of the plaque from thehousing during use. When the wearer wishes to remove the plaque fromengagement with the housing, he or she simply applies a force sufficientto disengage the hook and loop elements, and lifts the plaque off thehousing.

[0025] Use of the article of jewelry 10 with a removable plaque 12 willnow be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] In use, the article of jewelry, such as identification bracelet10, is initially in a non-secured position where the strap is fullyextended and the clasp is unsecured. The housing 14 is supported by thestrap 16 and the user chooses which plaque 12 he or she wishes to attachto the housing. The plaque is aligned with the housing and the housingis inserted within the plaque by placing the side walls 42, 44 of theplaque over the side walls 28, 30 of the housing and pushing the twotogether. The user applies a force to the plaque and/or the housinguntil the element of the engagement member supported by the housingengages the element of the engagement member supported on the plaque,and the plaque is secured to the housing. The engagement member may beany of a variety of known members which are used to removably secure twoitems together, as would be known to those of skill in the art. Theclasp and strap may then be secured around the wrist of the user. Inorder to disengage and remove the plaque, the user simply applies aforce sufficient to disengage the engagement element supported on thehousing from the engagement element supported on the plaque, asdescribed above.

[0027] It will be understood that various modifications may be made tothe embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the article of jewelryneed not be a bracelet, the size, dimensions and geometric configurationof the article may be varied, and various types of materials may beutilized. In addition, the engagement member is not limited to thosedescribed above, and may be varied as would be known to those of skillin the art. Therefore, the above description should not be construed aslimiting, but merely as exemplifications of a preferred embodiment.Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within thescope, spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of jewelry comprising: a housinghaving a first end, a second end, a base and a pair of side wallssupported by the base, the base further having an inner and an outersurface; a plaque including a faceplate and a pair of side wallssupported by the faceplate, the faceplate having an inner and an outersurface, the outer surface constructed and arranged to receiveornamentation thereon; an engagement member including a first elementand a second element, the first element being supported on the housing,and the second element being supported on the plaque; and wherein in anengaged position the sidewalls of the plaque overlap the sidewalls ofthe housing and the first element and second element matingly engage inorder to removably secure the plaque to the housing.
 2. The article ofjewelry of claim 1, wherein the first element is supported on the innersurface of the base and the second element is supported on the innersurface of the faceplate.
 3. The article of jewelry of claim 2, whereinthe first element is a magnet and the second element is a magnet, thefirst and second magnets being magnetically attracted to each other. 4.The article of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the engagement membercomprises Velcro® material and includes a hook element and acorresponding loop element.
 5. The article of jewelry of claim 1,wherein the first element is supported on the side walls of the housingand the second element is supported on the side walls of the plaque. 6.The article of jewelry of claim 5, wherein the first element is a pairof indentations formed on the outer surface of the sidewalls of thehousing and the second element is a pair of protrusions supported on theinner surface of the side walls of the plaque.
 7. The article of jewelryof claim 5, wherein the first element is a pair of protrusions formed onthe outer surface of the sidewalls of the housing and the second elementis a pair of indentations supported on the inner surface of the sidewalls of the plaque.
 8. The article of jewelry of claim 1, furthercomprising a strap having a first member attached to the first end ofthe housing, and a second member attached to a second end of thehousing.
 9. The article of jewelry of claim 1, wherein the plaquesubstantially covers the housing in the engaged position.
 10. An articleof jewelry comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, abase and a pair of side walls supported by the base, the base furtherhaving an inner and an outer surface; a plaque including a faceplate anda pair of side walls supported by the faceplate, the faceplate having aninner and an outer surface, the outer surface constructed and arrangedto receive ornamentation thereon; an engagement member including a firstmagnet element and a second magnet element, the first magnet elementbeing supported on the inner surface of the base, and the second magnetelement being supported on the inner surface of the plaque; and whereinin an engaged position the housing is inserted within the plaque suchthat the sidewalls of the plaque overlap the sidewalls of the housing,and the first element and second element magnetically engage in order toremovably secure the plaque to the housing.
 11. The article of jewelryof claim 10, wherein the plaque substantially covers the housing in theengaged position.
 12. An article of jewelry comprising: a housing havinga first end, a second end, a base and a pair of side walls supported bythe base, the base further having an inner and an outer surface; aplaque including a faceplate and a pair of side walls supported by thefaceplate, the faceplate having an inner and an outer surface, the outersurface constructed and arranged to receive ornamentation thereon; anengagement member including a first element and a second element, thefirst element being supported on the outer surface of the side walls ofthe housing, and the second element being supported on the inner surfaceof the side walls of the plaque; and wherein in an engaged position thehousing is inserted within the plaque such that the sidewalls of theplaque overlap the sidewalls of the housing, and the first element andsecond element matingly engage in order to removably secure the plaqueto the housing.
 13. The article of jewelry of claim 12, wherein theplaque substantially covers the housing in the engaged position.